Corneal Transplants: A+ Success Rate!
Posted by: West Georgia Eye Care Center in Frontpage Article on April 2, 2019
Hero Donors…
Corneal Transplant donors are heroes who change the lives of visually impaired people who need new corneas to regain sight. Recently, News Leader 9 (WTVM) shared the story of a local corneal transplant recipient who is hoping for improved vision to help her maintain a 4.0 GPA at Columbus State University. Although legally blind, this courageous young woman is facing her challenges with a positivity that is inspiring! Watch the video here: http://www.wtvm.com/2019/03/15/csu-student-undergoes-th-eye-surgery/
The Georgia Eye Bank is the non-profit agency which provided corneal tissue for her procedure, so they are making the grade too! Importantly, advances in technology and transplantation techniques have increased the success rate for corneal transplantation to 97%! Visit The Georgia Eye Bank Website – http://www.georgiaeyebank.org/
Georgia Eye Bank Factoids…
- Last year The Georgia Eye Bank provided 2,152 high quality tissues for transplant.
- 1,796 of those went to Georgia recipients.
- Corneal donations and transplants do not require blood typing.
- It is an easy process to become a donor.
- The Georgia Eye Bank provides free corneal tissue for our own Dr. Brooks to take to Kenya, Africa to help restore sight in an area where there are no eye banks.
Who can be an eye donor?
Anyone can be an eye donor, regardless of age, race or medical history. When the time comes for harvesting tissue, medical experts determine the suitability of the tissue for transplantation.
A common concern is that some religious considerations may deter organ donation. The great news is that most faiths encourage organ donation as a selfless act of charity. Seek the advice of your spiritual leaders if you share these concerns.
If you want to be a donor, first tell your family that you want to be an eye donor when you die. Tissue banks—the agencies that help get eye/other organ donations to medical and research institutions—will always ask your family if you told them you wanted to donate your organs. This is true even if you have an advance directive (legal documents that spell out your wishes for end-of-life care and other decisions).
In many states, you can sign a card at the driver’s license bureau stating that you want to be an organ donor. You may specify whether you wish to donate your eyes, organs or other tissues.
